Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .
IN OUR WORLD
I am coming to you from beautiful Naples FL, nestled right on the gulf.
It was a fantastic week. I had the honor of using my facilitation model to help with a huge innovation initiative for one of my favorite clients. It’s amazing what you can discover if you give a group a loosely defined process that allows for freedom of thought.
I am in Florida to help facilitate a panel discussion featuring three industry leaders as well as introducing methods of increasing your creative frame of reference when looking for new ideas.
I am FINALLY in the recover stage from the worst back muscle spasms I have ever experienced. In fact, it’s the FIRST lower back problem I have ever had. Today marks the first day in which pain has switched to discomfort – a GREAT sign.
Next week is the $100,000 Dallas Challenger Tennis Event and I am so jazzed to see some fantastic tennis!
HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE
AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
THE LAW OF ABUNDANCE – More is not better and better is not BEST!
This Creative Ventures law (one of 21) has driven my strategic approach to all the projects I have the honor of working on.
A friend recently sent me an article from the Wall Street Journal on the toothpaste industry. I often dump a bag full of different flavored toothpaste on stage to graphically define the Law of Abundance. The toothpaste industry has never been shy about the shotgun approach to branding and selling.
In 2010, 69 new toothpaste products hit the shelf in your local super-sized supermarket. Hey, that’s DOWN from the 107 that burst on the scene in 2009! On a trip down the toothpaste aisle you will see shoppers in the frozen state of “choice paralysis”.
Leaders in the chopper cleaning business are just now thinking – “hey have we over done it?” Matt Doyle of Proctor and Gamble was recently quoted as saying “maybe fewer is better.”
There are currently about 352 types of toothpaste sold which is a big improvement over 2008 where there were 412! Since 93% of all US adults use toothpaste you can see why companies want a hunk of that market.
Toothpaste is the natural darling of grocery retail creating a steady flow of buyer traffic and the widest price range in any store – from $1 to $50 for a tooth whitening system. Two brands control the aisle with Crest and Colgate generating 70% of all sales.
The signs show that even one of the most heavily proliferated items can develop a stronger brand presence by thoughtful reduction of its line of products.
Spend your time in any project searching for BEST!
ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIES: The Adjustment Bureau. Matt Damon and another movie based on a story by Philip K. Dick.
NetFlix Fans: Mega Mind: Funny.
TV: Criminal Minds – Suspect Behavior: Take out American Idol and CBS continues to be the #1 network. Oscar winner Forest Whitaker leads this new show.
BOOK: Burst – Baraabasi: A book about the hidden patterns in all things
MUSIC: I love the first comment for this Pink Floyd classis – If God had an iPod this song would be on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAchKt2xjsw
WEB SITES: Stuff about TV.
http://news.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv
SOUTH OF NORMAL
Since the Oscar’s are on this Sunday, I thought it appropriate for a little trivia:
- Midnight Cowboy is the only X rated movie to ever win an Oscar.
- Oscar Hammerstein is the only Oscar to win an Oscar.
- Ethel and Lionel Barrymore are the only brother and sister to win Oscars.
- Gone with the Wind was the first all color movie to win an Oscar.
- Bob Hope hosted the Oscars 18 times!
- Cinematographer Hal Mohr is the only non-nominated person to win an Oscar. He won on a write in.
My money is on The Kings Speech for Best Picture!
Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com
Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.
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